MANILA, Philippines — Eight senatorial candidates that emerged in the top 12 in Pampanga’s elections were backed by the Duterte administration, according to the 8:34 a.m. partial and unofficial tally of the poll watchdog Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) on Thursday.

Garnering an initial 743,026 votes, actor-turned-politician Lito Lapid is poised to lead the Senate race in Pampanga, which is also his home province.

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Source: https://validate.ppcrv.org/graph/

Pampanga is also the stronghold of known Duterte ally and outgoing House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who initiated and joined campaigns for the senatorial bets of Davao Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio’s Hugpong ng Pagbabago and President Rodrigo Duterte’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan.

Based on PPCRV’s unofficial and partial tally, administration-backed and reelectionist Sen. Cynthia Villar got the second highest spot with 690,031 votes.

The 11th vote-rich province in the country also gave its third-highest vote to independent candidate and reelectionist Sen. Grace Poe, followed by Duterte-backed contenders former Sen. Pia Cayetano, former presidential aide Bong Go, former Philippine National Police and Bureau of Corrections chief Ronald dela Rosa, and reelectionist Sen. Sonny Angara.

Former actor and senator Ramon Revilla Jr., also from Hugpong slate, got the 8th spot in the province. He was followed closely by administration-backed and outgoing Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, reelectionist Sen. Nancy Binay, as well as Duterte-allied and former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chair Francis Tolentino.

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